Predictive Markers Useful in the Treatment of Wet Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Abstract

The invention is directed to the use of biomarkers to determine responsiveness of an individual with wet AMD to treatment with a VEGF antagonist, to diagnose and distinguish dry and wet AMD and to determine the risk of conversion of a dry AMD disease to a wet AMD disease.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method of determining whether an individual suffers from dry AMD and/or wet AMD, the method comprising:
 (i) obtaining a sample from the individual   (ii) determining the quantity of at least one antibody selected from Group B antibodies directed against OGFR, alpha-synuclein, SELO, SPRY, GAPDH-H2, Annexin-V, THAP, VTI-B, HSP10, ESD, PKC80, ACO2-C2, PBP-I2, CAZ-C3, EIFA1, MAPK3, ENO1-H7, Chromosome 17, Aconitate Hydratase, and GPX4; and   (iii) identifying the individual as suffering from dry AMD and/or wet AMD disease if the amount of the at least one antibody selected from Group B antibodies is increased by at least 20% or decreased by at least 20% compared to control values.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the at least one antibody is selected from a subgroup B-1 of the Group B antibodies directed against alpha-synuclein, SELO, SPRY, GAPDH-H2, Annexin-V, THAP, VTI-B, and HSP10. 
     
     
         18 . A method to determine that an individual with dry AMD is at risk of developing wet AMD, the method comprising:
 (i) obtaining a sample from the individual with dry AMD;   (ii) determining the quantity of at least one antibody selected from autoantibodies which are members of Group A and/or Group B,
 wherein Group A antibodies are directed against OGFR, MAPK3, PolyRp2, Chromosome 17, EIFA1, GPX4, SRP14, Gamma-synuclein, Jo-1, Pre-Albumin, GPD2, AP1M1, ENO1-H7, PRG2, ATP synthase, GNB1-A3, TUBB3, HSP60, ICA1, SELO, SOD, and ENO2, and 
 wherein Group B antibodies are directed against alpha-synuclein, SELO, SPRY, GAPDH-H2, Annexin-V, THAP, VTI-B, HSP10, ESD, PKC80, ACO2-C2, OGFR, PBP-I2, CAZ-C3, EIFA1, MAPK3, ENO1-H7, Chromosome 17, Aconitate Hydratase, and GPX4; and 
   (iii) identifying the individual as being at risk of developing wet AMD if the amount of the at least one antibody is increased by at least 20% or decreased by at least 20% compared to control values.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 , wherein the at least one antibody is selected from a subgroup A-1 of the Group A antibodies and/or a subgroup B-1 of the Group B antibodies,
 wherein antibodies of subgroup A-1 are directed against OGFR, MAPK3, SRP14, ENO2, SOD, Pre-Albumin, Jo-1, PolyRp2, Chromosome 17, and EIFA1, and   wherein antibodies of subgroup B-1 are directed against alpha-synculein, SELO, SPRY, GAPDH-H2, Annexin-V, THAP, VTI-B, and HSP10.